10 AWARD-WINNING WEATHER PHOTOS NOW

Today, we are sharing a curated selection of beautiful images from the winners of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather in Focus Photo Contest 2015.

We especially love this photo: Proton arc over Lake Superior, by Ken William, the “Weather, Water, and Climate,” 2nd Place Winner.

Over 2,000 weather photographs, taken between 01.01.14 and 03.31.15, were submitted under the categories of “Science in Action,” “Weather, Water & Climate,” “In the iMoment,” and “Professional Submissions.”

Winning photos from the contest will be showcased at the Gateway to NOAA exhibit located at their campus in Silver Springs, Maryland, in late July.

“Professional Submissions” 2nd Place Winner:

A tornado churns up dust in sunset light near Traer, Iowa, by Brad Goddard. Orion, Illinois.

“Professional Submissions” 3rd Place Winner:

A tornado crosses the path, Reinbeck, IA, by Brad Goddard. Orion, Illinois.

“Weather, Water, and Climate” 1st Place Winner:

Snow Express, by Conrad Stenftenagel. Saint Anthony, Indiana.

“Weather, Water, and Climate” 3rd Place Winner:

With a Bang, by Bob Larson. Prescott, Arizona.

“Weather, Water, and Climate” Honorable Mention:

Raindrops on a leaf, by Alana Peterson. Maple Lake, Minnesota.

“Weather, Water, and Climate” Honorable Mention:

Fire in the Sky over Glacier National Park, by Sashikanth Chintla. North Brunswick, N.J.

“Science in Action” 1st Place Winner:

Green Bank Telescope in WV, by Mike Zorger. Falls Church, Virginia.

“Science in Action” 2nd Place Winner:

Photographer captures the aurora, by Christopher Morse. Fairbanks, Alaska.

“In the iMoment” 1st Place Winner:

Smoky Mountains, by Elijah Burris. Canton, North Carolina.

“Science in Action” Honorable Mention:

Atmospheric Research Observatory, by Joseph Phillips. Boulder, Colorado.

Read more about Beautiful Weather, as it relates to Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact.

“Science in Action” 3rd Place Winner:

Atmospheric Research Observatory, by Joseph Phillips. Boulder, Colorado.

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“In the iMoment” 2nd Place Winner:

Spring Captured: Freezing rain attempts to halt spring, by Mike Shelby. Elkridge, Maryland.

IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Proton arc over Lake Superior. Clio, Michigan.
2. Image: Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Stars behind the storm. Julesburg, Colorado.
3. Image: Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Rolling clouds in Lake Tahoe. Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
4. Image: Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A tornado churns up dust in sunset light near Traer, Iowa. Traer, Iowa.
5. Image: Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A tornado crosses the path, Reinbeck, IA.
6. Image: Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Snow Express. Saint Anthony, Indiana.
7. Image: Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. With a Bang. Prescott, Arizona.
8. Image: Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Raindrops on a leaf. Maple Lake, Minnesota.
9. Image: Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Fire in the Sky over Glacier National Park. West Glacier, Montana.
10. Image: Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Green Bank Telescope in WV. Green Bank, West Virginia.
11. Image: Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Photographer captures the aurora. Fairbanks, Alaska.
12. Image: Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Smoky Mountains. Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
13. Image: Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Atmospheric Research Observatory. South Pole, Antarctica.
14. Image: Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Atmospheric Research Observatory. South Pole, Antarctica.
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16. Image: Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Spring Captured: Freezing rain attempts to halt spring. Elkridge, Maryland.